In a manner, the primary a part of Gotham’s season ended Saturday, with a 2-1 win over Bay FC at Sports activities Illustrated Stadium, with a veteran and a newcomer — Esther González and Geyse, respectively — staging a comeback after they fell behind within the twelfth minute.
González capitalized on a Thirtieth-minute turnover by Bay in entrance of the online.
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Geyse created simply sufficient area off a protracted go to attain early within the second half. And when Bay couldn’t equalize throughout the ultimate 35-plus minutes, that’s how Gotham entered a virtually six-week break for worldwide video games.
Esther Gonzalez celebrates after scoring in the course of the Gotham FC-Bay FC match on June 21, 2025. X / @GothamFC
When the season resumes Aug. 1, they’ll possess the ultimate playoff spot, staring down a easy path to the postseason match and a sophisticated one to get again to the levels they reached — the championship and the semifinals — the final two years.
Gotham’s victory Saturday marked simply the second time all season they’ve received consecutive NWSL matches.
However this early-season slate was at all times going to be about adjusting.
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About tweaking the lineup to accommodate new gamers after the offseason exits.
About ready for star Rose Lavelle to return after which ready for her to get again to the beginning lineup, which occurred Saturday.
They nonetheless introduced again González, whose aim Saturday gave her a league-high 10 this 12 months, and Lavelle and Emily Sonnett and loads of different stars, however a piece of the superteam from 2024 departed — after which star defender Tierna Davidson tore her ACL in April.
“It was at all times going to be a technique of adaptation, however on the similar time, we all know this league,” head coach Juan Carlos Amorós stated postgame. “We’ve got to compete. We’ve got to win. … I would love us to have extra factors on the desk. I believe that’s the identical with the group of gamers.
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“However then additionally taking a look at … now we have a number of younger gamers within the roster in the mean time that they’re getting experiences. Experiences like [Saturday] are invaluable. You’ll be able to’t get them in case you don’t stay them.”
Amorós, up to now, has been compelled to experiment. He was compelled to plug new gamers into new spots and see what might stick.
Geyse, a 27-year-old on mortgage from Manchester United, deposited her second tally of the marketing campaign to offer Gotham the lead.
Additionally they used six rookies Saturday, together with midfielder Sarah Schupansky, who deflected a Bay go close to the online that went proper to the foot of González for the equalizer.
Geyse celebrates after scoring in the course of the Gotham FC-Bay FC match on June 21, 2025. X / @GothamFC
“We’ve by no means actually been a workforce with many rookies over the previous few seasons, however it’s type of a breath of recent air within the locker room, off the sphere and on the sphere,” midfielder Nealy Martin stated.
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Gotham additionally shifted rookie Lilly Reale outdoors from her pure place of heart again, and earlier this week, she earned her first call-up to the USA girls’s nationwide workforce for its upcoming coaching camp.
After arriving at UCLA forward of Reale’s sophomore 12 months, Bruins coach Margueritte Aozasa plugged her into the middle again spot and watched her function the Bruins’ defensive anchor, however throughout her closing season in 2024, Aozasa sensed that Reale was able to assault extra.
She knew that Reale would by no means say she was bored, however typically Aozasa would suppose, “Oh man, she desires to make it fascinating. She’s gonna go attempt to dribble 50 yards.”
And most occasions, Aozasa informed The Put up on Friday, “she was profitable, so couldn’t actually blame her.”
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There have been loads of rising pains for Gotham.
There may very well be others after the season resumes, too, and that’s the chance with changing lineup items.
However for every part that went unsuitable over the primary three-plus months of the season, Gotham’s work on the defensive construction has paid off, Martin stated. The chaos of all of the offseason adjustments has began to calm.
Now they’ve to attend — greater than a month’s value of it — for an opportunity to show a two-match burst into extra.